I'm Still Here!

 Just haven't been present blogging because Bill and I got away for another Cape May vacation for our 36th anniversary! So, my apologies in advance for this LONG post (art is towards the end).It was a perfect 5 days of pure sunshine, and it was like a week in July temperature wise:). We got lots of walking in on the beach and in town, met up with friends, got some pool time in, and met a great couple at the pool at the same time two afternoons who told us about their favorite restaurant which we'd never been to so we checked it out and made a reservation (it was practically next to our motel!). So I will join Bleubeard and Elizabeth and the gang at T Stands For Tuesday with these next few pics:

 Look at this stunning piece of furniture!! First thing we noticed when we walked into the Union Park dining room/hotel entrance. It is huge and takes up most of one wall though it looks small in this photo. Union Park restaurant is on the first floor and  Hotel Macomber rooms above.

 The restaurant is a BYOB so we chose champagne to bring and it was perfect for our sublime dinner!

 We both had Caesar salads. It was beautifully presented and both agreed this is truly THE freshest and best we have had anywhere.

 We also both had the salmon special which was done to perfection, along with quinoa. It was topped with crabmeat and a bit of a tomato confit. On the side, a swipe of avocado cream. OMG!!! How could we have missed out on this place all these years? You can bet that next time we go this will be the first place we make a reservation for. Next post I'll share some of our other favorite places;)

 We weren't home long and this past weekend brought us to the 32nd annual Celtic Classic weekend so of course we got immersed in Celtic music!!!

 Love the Parade of the Tartans, and fortunately at least during the parade it was overcast because the rest of the day and Sunday became hot, hot , hot!

 Hopefully the videos I share will work:)

                                            my high school alma mater

 After the parade we listened to a band for a bit and walked around but very briefly as everywhere it was PACKED with SO many people it was difficult to move. So we walked back home and then gave it another try on Sunday -much, much better!

 
 We went to see the band Searson and met our friends Lynn and Andrew (along with their darling 4 month old little one, Warren) there. Here's a pic of father and son dressed the part for the weekend:

 and  a pic of us all together:

Difficult to get a good photo under the tent:(

 One more short video- of Searson- awesome music:

  And now, if you're still here-thank you!- a bit of art:

This tag is meant for Tag Tuesday (theme is Trees); and Moo Mania and More(theme is Autumn Glory). Background is a napkin. Tree image is from Magenta and I dotted the branches with various colors of glitter glue.

 And one final journal page for this month's Art Journal Journey theme (Polka Dots, Stripes, Plaids or Patterns), and Paint Party Friday:

 Done in my Dylusions Creative Dyary journal. Stencils used: Brick Wall (Wendy Vecchi), and Bulles (Carabelle Studio). Various Distress inks, image is from Retro Café Art. Words computer generated.

 Thanks so much for your visit. Looking forward to catching up with you all again:)

"Everyday creativity is not an endeavor focused only on end products, but rather, involves a healthy way of appreciating life, which connects us more meaningfully to our world."   Ruth Richards

This and That

 As autumn starts creeping in (even though it still feels like summer here:) I start thinking about autumn colors, and autumn foods. Like these muffins I was making this morning:

 Molasses muffins with delicious spices -  ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Hubby loves these! And I got this quick and easy recipe from Bleubeard and Elizabeth at Altered Book Lover which she shared on her blog during one of our T Stands For Tuesday gatherings. Thank you Elizabeth!! Oh, the house smelled so good and as you can see I all but finished my coffee before the muffins even got into the oven:)

 Soon I will be making pear bread and pear tarts too. And speaking of pears, I made this tag for Tag Tuesday (pears and apples), Moo Mania and More! (use a stamp), and the Simon Monday Challenge (monochromatic):

 The pear is from a napkin. Other products- manila tag; Distress Vintage Photo ink; postage rubber stamp; fabric tape; tiny buttons.

 I have a card for the Simon Wednesday Challenge ( Bling It On):

Really difficult to get the metallic shine on the patterned cardstocks (and the black is just a backdrop not part of the card) so here's a detail shot:

ha- I guess this would work for the Simon Monday Challenge also:)

 Products:ivory note card and envie (The Philadelphia Group); clear stamp-Forever After set, and heavy vellum (Simon Says Stamp); Archival Jet Black ink; patterned cardstocks (DCWV the Natural Mat Stack); heart punch (McGill); Stickles glitter glue (Ranger).

And this journal page I will share with Art Journal Journey (Polka dots/ Stripes/Plaids or Patterns):

 Tim Holtz Typography, Symphony tissue papers, Paper Dolls, Snarky Small Talk stickers, washi tape, Linen stencil. Dina Wakley: paints- Lime, Lapis, Cheddar, Mini Favorites stencil, Media Journal.

 A note: I just found out that tinypic.com (which I used to resize badges to correct sizing for my blog) will no longer host their website free for anyone to use so I just lost most of my sidebar badges and links:(:(:(. I am NOT tech savvy, so anyone have any suggestions?

 I will be taking a short break again beginning at the end of the week. Be well, be happy, be creative!

" When you get a hint of your own creativity or potential, you already feel this bright shimmering quality of joy."      Michael Ray

A Beautiful Time

 So how's your September coming along? We are lucky to live in an area where the month is so beautiful, and I'm taking advantage of that.  I'm really enjoying having our friends' dog Riley again for the week:) Little walks throughout the day and art time and reading outside in between!

 Lots of art to share so I'll have to pick and choose what to post this week. I'm starting with some pages from my Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal.

 This one's meant for T Stands for Tuesday:

 The background paper is a rice paper I got from Joggles. I added some extra coffee stains using Distress Vintage Photo ink and a stamp from the Coffee Time Darkroom Door set. The coffee cup is a napkin. Sentiment is Tim Holtz Snarky Small Talk stickers.

 A few more pages from this calendar journal:

 The page was covered with Antique White paint. I then sponged on Distress Oxide inks in Pistachio and Fossilized Amber. For some reason the Amber looks peachy here. I then splattered a bit of it too. The window frame image is an oldie from Stamper's Anonymous and the sentiment is from the Wall Art clear stamp set by Wow!Stamps (purchased at the Simon Says Stamp online store) . First I stamped off the page with  Archival Sepia ink before stamping on the page for a very lucid effect then stamped over the images with the full strength ink. Butterfly is from Tim Holtz Botanicals . I'll share this page along with the next one  with the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Stamp It); the Simon Monday Challenge (Stamp It); and Moo Mania and More (Use a stamp).

 And this one I will also share with Art Journal Journey (theme is Polka dots/Stripes/Plaids or Patterns) and Try It On Tuesday (Boys/Girls/Children).

 Products:Girl- Inky Antics Long Hair Flair stamp set; washi tape heart- Dina Wakley; sentiment stickers- Tim Holtz; Archival Jet Black ink; Altenew Morning Frost ink; Carabelle Studio Bulles stencil; dry chalks; assorted markers; Stickles Diamond glitter glue (Ranger).

 Yet another calendar page:

 and this will work for some of the challenges as well:) Many of the pages in the Creative Dyary (on the right side of each spread) have preprinted backgrounds. I always like to add some extra stamping and carry a bit of it over to the left page where I fill in my calendar each week. Here I added extra stamping using Dylusions Basic Backgrounds stamp set and Archival inks I chose to pretty much match the colors in the background that were already there. That beautiful floral image is from Dina Wakley's Collage Collective book. Sentiment is Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions sticker. I added some extra splatters with black ink too.

 Lastly, this is another page done in a similar series of abstracts I began making earlier in the year. You can see the others here, here, and here if you wish. I'll have one more to post next time.

  Joining Paint Party Friday this week too of course:) Wishing you all a fun, happy and creative week!

" Be a full bucket, pulled up the dark way of a well, then lifted out into the light."  Rumi

Changing Seasons

 First off, I'd like to send out prayers for all those in Hurricane Dorian's path and wishing everyone safety.

 Here in the Northern Hemisphere we are welcoming the coming of Autumn and in the Southern Hemisphere Spring is coming. I won't lament Fall approaching because at least where I live summer usually extends through September- minus earlier sunset times, so I'm OK with that!

 Going to start off here with a party, food and drinks which I will share with T Stands For Tuesday:

 We, our friends Lynn, Andrew and baby Warren, along with Todd and Kyra had another fun, fun record/vinyl party Saturday evening and these were the records we took to play. I have every Hall and Oates album made and specifically searched fervently for this one album from our vast record collection because it has a song on it titled "August Day" and I wanted to hear it our last day of August:)  Some of you may remember my sharing a few other record parties we've had. SO FUN!!

 Andrew and Lynn hosted and provided pizzas, drinks and popcorn to snack on. Kyra made a buffalo chicken dip-yum! and for the first time I made falafels. I knew they'd be gracious guinea pigs. And.... the falafels turned out so good so I will share the easy recipe at the bottom of the page. Definitely making these again- they make great sides or appetizers!

               Falafels (Recipe at bottom of this post, and I will also link it 

under the "recipes" tab under my blog header.

 I made them just before leaving, and served them with Tzaziki sauce.

For the Simon Wednesday Challenge(Anything Goes), and the Simon Monday Challenge (Something Clear) I made this card, along with a matching envie: 

 Products: patterned notecard and white envie (the Paper Studio); Clustered Leaves die, heavy vellum, Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp); sentiment- Label love set (Altenew); Adirondak  Eggplant ink (Ranger); Tim Holtz mini stapler. On the envie- Floral Shadow stamps (Altenew; inks- Adirondak Eggplant, Currant ; Archival inks- Leaf Green, Sunflower.

 There is a new theme for the Art Journal Journey Challenge for the month of September! Erika is the guest host and she has chosen the theme of  "Polka Dots, Stripes, Plaids , or Patterns". Here is my journal page (it's 9" x 12"):

 A Detail shot:

 and the colorful rainbow background I painted to start the page with:

  This page was inspired by a You Tube video I watched by Julie Kotenko. I grabbed my most vibrant paints for this page and had a blast splattering, dripping, and finger painting!

 As always I will join Paint Party Friday this week. Have a super week!

"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather, and autumn's best of cheer."    Helen Hunt Jackson

          Falafels (recipe courtesy of The Minimalist Baker)

1 15oz. can chick peas (rinsed, drained and patted dry)

1/3 c. fresh parsley                    4 cloves garlic (minced)

2 medium shallots, minced       2 Tbsp. raw sesame seeds

1 1/2 tsp. cumin                         1/4 tsp. each of salt and pepper

1 healthy pinch each of cardamom and coriander

3-4 Tbsp. flour                          3-4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Panko breadcrumbs for coating (optional)

Add chick peas, parsley, shallot, garlic, sesame seeds, cumin, salt, pepper, coriander and cardamom to a food processor and pulse to combine, scraping down sides as needed. Add flour 1 Tbsp. at a time and pulse to combine until no longer wet and you can mold the dough into a ball without it being sticky.  Cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours to firm up.

Form dough into 12 patties. Optional: sprinkle on Panko breadcrumbs and press to adhere- both sides for crispier outsides.

Heat a large skillet over med. heat and add enough oil to just coat the pan. Cook 2-3 min. til golden then flip and cook 2-3 min. more.( you may need to add a Tbsp. or two more oil). Best eaten fresh. Leftovers will keep in fridge 4-5 days. Can also freeze. Serve with your favorite hummus and/or Tzaziki sauce.